AVB - Balanced team

[SteveH]

I cant remember a better run of balanced displays by any Spurs squads in last 20 years.
We have had some great attacking displays with H, but AVB has given us stickability and we can now defend!

 

[Mr Pink]

Defending as a team has improved exponentially. Collectively we just look so much better off the ball, the work rate and pressing yesterday was excellent, and the balance is good now - on and off the ball.

Well, we need to improve in the attacking sense, and hopefully we will in this window.

All in all though, AVB's work is pretty evident now - it's becoming more and more clear over the last month or so.

 

[double0]

As a collective unit (team) we've been great, all credit to AVB- a lots been said about the lack of creativity and a better general striker though I'm pretty sure in time those will be addressed, but in the meantime the general strength power pace and fitness of our team has really really impressed me. We are now overpowering teams (Tottehnham ha ha southern softies) prime example ManU just cracked after sustained pressure.

 

[SteveH]

Defending as a team has improved exponentially. Collectively we just look so much better off the ball, the work rate and pressing yesterday was excellent, and the balance is good now - on and off the ball.

Well, we need to improve in the attacking sense, and hopefully we will in this window.

All in all though, AVB's work is pretty evident now - it's becoming more and more clear over the last month or so.

Strange for me as I first saw this in the defeat at the Emirates for the first time. Having witnessed the 3-5 reversal 2001 it really pleases me, I strangely was quietly pleased when we still 0-1 down.

Hats off to Levy yet again for bringing AVB in - a stroke of genius in the face of ridicule from everywhere.

 

[lillywhites61]

For me I actually feel a hell of a lot more confident in us going into the final part of the season with a clear objective and fulfilling it.

In a strange sort of way the pressure was off AVB as he probably had a what have I got to lose attitude when joining, I mean he had been torn to shreds by the press so couldn't get any worse really. It could only get better which is what has happened, the more shenanigans that have gone on at our neighbours as helped him as well.

As for the team being balanced, I just see us working harder as a team, running for each other and pressing as well as dropping as a team. You only have to look at Asse in the first half yesterday to see what a difference it makes when it doesn't happen, at times last season that was how we looked, lost of ideas and half assed.

I will judge more at the end if the season but from what I'm seeing we have done very well.

 

[kcmei]

some people still dont realise that we have actually improved as a team replacing vdv and modric with dembele, dempsey and sigardsson. These players are much more classy than u think, particularly dembele

 

[ShelfSide18]

Defending as a team has improved exponentially. Collectively we just look so much better off the ball, the work rate and pressing yesterday was excellent, and the balance is good now - on and off the ball.

Well, we need to improve in the attacking sense, and hopefully we will in this window.

All in all though, AVB's work is pretty evident now - it's becoming more and more clear over the last month or so.

I suppose the only regret is that AVB lost Modric and VDV, and the injuries we've had (whether they are down to our training methods/intensity/overplaying players etc is up for debate).

I think, with the mitigations he can point to, and despite that brief but not very nice run of inspid performances he has done a tremendous job. He's not just getting the best out of players he's improving them, and these small margins put together mean a big benefit.

As you say, the team is defending collectively like never before, the pressing off the ball is getting better which is infectious to the whole team, groups of 2 and 3 hunting the ball down and high up the pitch, preventing our FBs getting overloaded all the time, tight defensive lines - it's all I wanted to see more often last season. When we add some brains to the team we will raise it up another notch too.

Can you tell I'm really excited about the future?

 

[Nocando]

I said ages ago we appear to have more resiliance and I think that's the main trait of the team now. We now we work hard, keep our shape and are generally harder to beat. Our attacking gung ho style (typically under Harry) has suffered a little bit, but the fact that we can hold our own against any of the top teams is very reassuring. Plus I think we are also in a better position to deal witht the teams, such as Stoke, who don't want to play against us. Obviously we're not there in terms of putting these teams to the sword quicker and more convincingly but I believe with a couple of additions, or as we progress further, we will be in a better position to see of these teams.

 

[alamo]

We have been pleasantly resilient and look as though we will maintain that trend (I hope!)

For me, it's all about the moose. Just been rewatching yesterdays match on Sky plus and my word he is so imperious. What a bargain

 

[Damian99]

Somebody buy this guy a striker.

 

[mrbrightside73]

Dembele is amazing.Ball retentions as good as Modric, and he always seems to have so much time

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Still got just under half a season left but so far so good. Not got too many complaints and I'd say we're doing above par at the moment.

Some will disagree but on paper Arsenal's team still looks a little stronger than ours to me, well especially attacking anyway. I think we need to bring in at least one and maybe 2 players if we want to finish above them for once.

 

[Real_madyidd]

I really enjoy our defensive work, but I do wonder how we will cope playing such a fast, pressing game for the rest of the season? Will we tire? Will players start getting knocks? Who knows, but I do like what we have done so far.

 

[chinaman]

Wait till AVB gets a few re-inforcement and we'll make the world sit up.

 

[JollyHappy]

Agree but when discussing balance why play Naughton instead of BAE?

 

[bugsdad]

some people still dont realise that we have actually improved as a team replacing vdv and modric with dembele, dempsey and sigardsson. These players are much more classy than u think, particularly dembele

They are certainly more physica. Dembele,paired with Sandro they are a pair of beasts and no midfielders would really fancy meeting and out battling them. Are they more classy ,I dont think so.Modric and VDV had a certain sparkle that we seem to be missing against packed defenses such as QPR last week. If we could add the star element of a player who can unpick this sort of defence, Holtby , hopefully then I would agree that this years squad is stronger despite the loss of VDV and Modric.

 

[SteveH]

They are certainly more physica. Dembele,paired with Sandro they are a pair of beasts and no midfielders would really fancy meeting and out battling them. Are they more classy ,I dont think so.Modric and VDV had a certain sparkle that we seem to be missing against packed defenses such as QPR last week. If we could add the star element of a player who can unpick this sort of defence, Holtby , hopefully then I would agree that this years squad is stronger despite the loss of VDV and Modric.

We lost against QPR last term remember. Modric or Dembele...........tough choice.........VDV vs ?? we will see.

Dembele was outstanding yesterday.

 

[beats1]

Agree but when discussing balance why play Naughton instead of BAE?

Because he isnt fit?

 

[ilikeost]

Agree but when discussing balance why play Naughton instead of BAE?

Match fitness? Perhaps Naughton didn't deserve to lose his place right away. But I think we'll see Benny back in the starting XI sooner rather than later. He is a far superior LB than Naughton.

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

I think the fact that Fergie sent out a defensive team yesterday says all we need to know about how AVB is doing.